The Lithium Battery debate.

[1olbull]

We have severe winters in Australia too! I remember a winter so bad that I couldn't ride for a whole week. I still have nightmares about it!

 

[smokit2]

I had a Shorai in my Sprint ST 1050. The battery was super light weight and started the bike quickly when it was warm outside. When it got to 40 F or below, it was awful! They even sent me a replacement battery because of the starting problems I had. Didn't make a difference, still was very hard to get enough power out of it to start.
I'll stick with AGM! YMMV

Had one briefly as well in Montana. Reliability was crap for as expensive as it was

 

[ImmortalArmor]

Stumbled on this yesterday.
Not Cheap but also rather honest regarding equivalent Lead Acid expectations.
May not be available outside the EU (in fact may be awkward outside Germany)
Lithium Powerbloc

EXCLUSIVELY A123Systems LiFePO4.



But maybe for those in colder climes.

Bought this battery because of the colder climates in the U.K. It was in the 30s and bike wouldn’t even turn over with that battery. I plug my bike in nightly to a battery tender in my garage, have a heat lamp running, and trying out having a solar battery tender hooked up for while I’m at work. Also carrying an instajump and jumper cables just in case.

Sucked going out to my bike after a 16 hour shift and having to have the MPs give me a jump start. Beats not riding because of the cold. Yes I wear heated gear on my 30 mile commute to and from base every day.

 

[Grumpy Ole Codger]

There are several threads regarding the use of LiPo batteries on here. One of the main problems appears to be the temperature. They are not good at starting or turning over the starter motor when the temperature is close to freezing. Have a browse, it might help. At least you got the MP's to do something useful!!

 

[TXtriple]

From my research, they need to be woken up in cold conditions. Most common way is to turn on ignition (headlights) for a minute before attempting to start. Also read if their voltage drops below a certain point, they are unrecoverable. That's the main reason I steered away from one when looking for a replacement. It would really suck to invest that much in a battery that could be trashed by leaving something on too long. Not first hand knowledge mind you...just stuff I read in online reviews.

 

[sonny]

Sucker born everyday. I'll stick with the stock. Works fine if you actually ride.

 

[barbagris]

I will be having a long chat with a German Company called Silent-Hektik next week. Primarily because they make a modern alternator for 40 year old Guzzis, and I need one.
But also because they have developed a SERIES replacement regulator SPECIFICALLY to keep LiFePO4 healthy. They also comment that anything under 7.5AH is pointless for machine charged systems. And upon a bit of research an awful lot of Li batteries on sale are NOT that big.

Works fine if you actually ride.

Unless it's really hot where you ride - coz then Lead Acid fail really fast. The worst I have personally seen was a Harley Softail - where the battery is surrounded by the oil tank. 45°C ambient - wrapped by a 100plus °C radiator and receiving charge. Unless it's a good ald fashion non sealed battery you can top up - dry inside a season.

 

[barbagris]

From my research, they need to be woken up in cold conditions. Most common way is to turn on ignition (headlights) for a minute before attempting to start. Also read if their voltage drops below a certain point, they are unrecoverable.

The warming up thing is plain chemistry. But is a PITA. The likely hood of a well made vehicle battery going low voltage is very low as most have cut-off protection built in. You CAN recover but it takes some courage. And a mate with a welder.